Species in The Oz Series
the bears of the Valley of Voe
Also known as large and fierce bears, invisible bears.
Large and fierce bears that roam the Valley of Voe; they eat the dama-fruit like the people of Voe and are therefore also invisible, preying on the valley's inhabitants when they can catch them.
Appears in 2 chapters, first in chapter 77, last in chapter 78.
This encyclopedia covers chapters 1 to 100 of the story and shows the world as it stands at chapter 100, so it contains spoilers up to that point. To read it spoiler free, one chapter at a time, open the interactive codex.
What the story establishes
| Habitat | Roam the Valley of Voe, a lighted underground valley shaped like a great cup, ranging from the orchards and cottages near the river to the drier, house-less stretch of land near the base of the Pyramid Mountain; they avoid the river itself, which the valley's inhabitants and travelers can cross safely on foot. (as of ch. 78) |
| Innate traits | Large, fierce, and predatory; become invisible to human and animal eyes after eating the dama-fruit, like the people of Voe. Individually nearly as big as a horse, with terrible claws and sharp teeth, strong and fierce enough to gash a horse's flanks deeply. They do not venture onto water, so travelers can escape them by walking or floating on a river. When a bear is killed, the invisibility charm ceases for it and its body becomes visible to all. (as of ch. 78) |
| Is alive | no |
Relationships
- enemy of · the people of Voe ch. 78The bears of the Valley of Voe remain the standing enemy of the people of Voe, who still flee and evade them (e.g. by taking to the water) even after the Wizard slew one lone bear.
- kills ← Oz (ended) ch. 78As he retreats toward the river, the Wizard stabs at an unseen attacking bear with his sword three times, the final thrust killing it; its body becomes visible, revealing a great red bear as big as the horse and much stronger and fiercer.
- injures → Jim (ended) ch. 78Invisible bears claw at Jim the horse while he is being coated with the water-walking leaves, leaving two or three deep, freely bleeding gashes on his flanks before he kicks free and escapes onto the river.
- warns ← the people of Voe (ended) ch. 78The unseen person's warning to the travelers is specifically about the danger posed by the Valley's bears, naming them as the threat to watch for.
- kills → Overman-Anu (ended) ch. 78After surviving nine days fighting the Gargoyles, the Champion Overman-Anu was later caught and eaten by one of the Valley's bears, his scattered visible remains confirming his death.
- used against ← the Wizard's sword (ended) ch. 78The Wizard uses his sword to repeatedly stab at an unseen bear attacking him near the riverbank, killing it on the third thrust.
- located in → Valley of Voe (ended) ch. 77–78Large and fierce invisible bears roam throughout the Valley of Voe, having eaten the invisibility-inducing dama-fruit themselves.
- fears ← Eureka (ended) ch. 78Amid the group's flight from the bears attacking near the riverbank, Eureka is caught up in the panic and danger surrounding the invisible bears alongside the rest of the party.
- kills ← Overman-Anu (ended) ch. 78During his lifetime the Champion Overman-Anu killed eleven of the Valley's bears, each kill confirmed because a slain creature becomes visible.
From the text
Many large and fierce bears roam in the Valley of Voe, and when they can catch any of us they eat us up; but as they cannot see us, we seldom get caught.Chapter 77
"suddenly at his feet appeared the form of a great red bear, which was nearly as big as the horse and much stronger and fiercer"Chapter 78
"But if you remain visible the bears will see you and devour you," said a girlish young voice, that belonged to one of the children.Chapter 78
See the bears of the Valley of Voe chapter by chapter in the interactive codex →